Wire-stretcher.



J. A. WHITE.

WIRE STRETCHBE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1912.

1,062,939. Patented May 27,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

anomto'a J1 Wale,

Witnesses J. A. WHITE.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATION run a. 20, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

A A A W i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. WHITE, OF WILSEY, KANSAS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE A. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilsey, in the county of Morris, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wire stretchers.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a wire stretcher which is adapted for stretching woven wire fences in their entirety.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wire stretcher which may be utilized for stretching a woven wire fence from end post to end post without the necessity of directly connecting the stretcher to the adjacent post.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wire stretcher which will be simple in construction, efficient in use and which may be easily and quickly set for operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and com bination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of refer ence denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the wire stretcher operatively applied, Fig. 2, a plan view of what is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3, a fragmental detail perspective view illustrating the winding drum of the stretcher Fig. 4, a detail perspective view of the anchor foot which holds the supporting staff of the winding drum against axial rotation, and Fig. 5, an enlarged transverse section through the wire clamping means of the stretcher.

Referring to the drawings, the stretcher is shown as comprising an upright 10 the upper end of which terminates in a transversely disposed sleeve portion 10 in which is rotatably mounted an arm 11 having forked ends 11. Fixed to the bottom of the upright 10 is an anchor foot 12 disposed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

Serial No. 691,992.

parallel to and in the same plane with the arm 11. Fixed on the terminals of the anchor foot 12 are hooks 13 and 14, while the intermediate portion of said foot is provided with teeth 15. Pivoted in the forked end of the arm 11 are downwardly inclined braces A and B, each of which comprises an inner section 16 and an outer section 17 connected together by a hinge joint 18 whereby the outer section 17 may be folded upon the inner sections 16.

In order to hold the connected sections 16 and 17 in longitudinal alinement during the operation of the device there is provided a bar 16 having fixed on one end thereof a collar 16 slidable on the section 16. By this construction it will be apparent that the bar 16' can be moved into overlying relation to the hinge 18. When the bar 16 is disposed in this relation a collar 16 slidable on the section 17 is engaged over the end of the bar 16' remote from the collar 16 and in this manner the sections 16 and 17 are locked in longitudinal alinement. Each of the outer sections 17 terminate at their free ends in claws 19 which are adapted to engage in the ground When the Wire stretcher is in use as will hereinafter appear. Pivoted to the upright 10 at the connection of the latter with the anchor foot 12 is a brace rod 20 the free end of which terminates in a point 21 for engagement with a fence post which latter is indicated in this instance at C and is disposed between the braces A and B. Adjustably mounted upon the upright 10 is a bracket D having arms 22 and 23 between which is journaled a shaft 24. having fixed thereon a winding drum 25 and ratchet wheels 26 and 27, the latter being disposed respectively at each end of the drum 25. This drum is adapted to be rotated by a yoke which includes a socket stem 20 and arms 29 and 30, said arms embracing the upright 10 and having their free ends loosely mounted upon respective terminals of the shaft 24.

The arms 29 and 30 are provided respectively with corresponding ears 31 between which is journaled a pawl 32 adapted to simultaneously engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels 26 and 27 when said yoke is moved on its pivot in one direction. In order to more conveniently operate the yoke a handle 33 is employed which is adapted to removably seat in the socket stem 28. In order to prevent backward rotation of the drum 25 there is mounted on the arms 22 and 23 respectively corresponding pawls 25 which are adapted to operatively engage respectively with the ratchet wheels 26 and 27. Adapted to wind and unwind upon the drum 25 is a chain 34 the free end of which is connected to a wire clamping device in a manner that will hereinafter appear. This wire clamping device comprises a pair of bars 35 and 36 arranged side by side and havingtheir outer side faces disposed in convergence away from the upright 10. Surrounding the clamping bars 35 and 36 at spaced points are wedging frames 37 each of which have their sides in convergence for cooperation with the converging sides of the clamping bars 35 and 36. The wedging frames 37 are connected respectively with the free end of the chain 34 by means of cables 38.

By this construction it will be apparent that when one end of the fence to be stretched is placed between the bars 25 and 26 and the drum 25 operated so as to wind the cable 34 thereon it will draw the wedging frames 37 against the resistance offered by the wire fence and cause said frame to tightly wedge the bars 35 and 36 together and thus acquire the necessary grip upon the fence to be stretched.

The free end of one section 17 is connected to the hook 13 of the anchor foot by means of a brace chain 39 while the other section 17 is connected to the hook 14 by a brace chain 40, said brace chains aiding in holding the upright 10 against axial rotation during the operation of the stretcher.

It will be noted that each of the wedging frames 37 includes hinged arms 40 and 41 provided at their free ends respectively with outwardly extending eye portions 42 which are adapted to abut and register with each other when said arms 40 and 41 are moved toward each other. Respective chains 38 are engaged through the registering eye portions 42 as will be apparent. The provision of these hinged arms 40 and 41 permit of the ready application of the bars 35 and 36 within the frame 37 as will be apparent.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a wire stretcher, the combination of an upright, a cross arm fixed to the upper end of said upright, a transversely disposed anchor foot fixed to the lower end of said upright, downwardly inclined braces secured to each end of saidci'oss arm, each of said braces being formed of inner and outer sections hinged together, ground engaging claws on the free ends of said outer sections, connections between the free ends of each outer sect-ion and the corresponding end of the anchor foot, an upwardly inclined brace having its lower end secured to the upright at its connection with the anchor foot, and a Wire stretching device adjustably mounted on said upright.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination of an upright, a cross arm fixed to the upper end of said upright, a transversely disposed anchor foot fixed to the lower end of said upright, downwardly inclined braces Secured to each end of said cross arm, each of said braces being formed of inner and outer sections hinged together, ground engaging claws on the free ends of said outer sections, connections between the free ends of each outer section and the corresponding'end of the anchor foot, a frame including spaced tubular portions slidably adjustable on said upright, and wire stretching means mounted in said frame.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JESSE A. WHITE.

l/Vitnesses Mrs. J. A. WHITE, 0. H. BURTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

